Cyprus reports rising vehicle registrations and shifting tourism trends

Cyprus has seen a 9.1% increase in motor vehicle registrations between January and September 2026, reaching 43,890 units compared to 40,212 during the same period in 2025. A significant shift in consumer preference is evident as the market share for hybrid passenger cars rose to 53%, up from 44% the previous year. Conversely, gasoline vehicle shares fell to 34.8% from 42.8%, while diesel and electric vehicle shares saw slight declines.

In the tourism sector, Cyprus recorded a 7% decrease in tourist arrivals through August 2026 compared to the previous year. This decline is largely driven by a drop in European markets, including a 10% decrease from the United Kingdom and significant losses from France (36.5%) and Italy (33.5%). However, the Israeli market has partially offset these losses, with arrivals from Israel expected to reach between 650,000 and 700,000 by year-end.